SI Maylands Peninsula – Guest Speak Dr Bullen

At the Maylands Peninsula meeting on 6 October we were inspired and informed by our guest speaker Dr Ivy Bullen. Dr Bullen spoke about programs run for cancer patients and their supporters at the 53 acre Balya Retreat Centre in Gidgegannup.

Dr Bullen was introduced to the meeting by Monika Zechetmayr who had met her when she went to Carnarvon for a fund-raiser about Balya. Monika described her as ‘A remarkable woman. She is tireless, warm, very, very knowledgeable, a great asset to our society’.

Ivy Bullen and other health professionals have run the Balya Cancer Self Help and Wellness Centre Retreats for cancer patients since 1989. Balya helps people to pick up the pieces, either before, during or after they have contracted the disease. The Centre offers a full range of services, information, and support, to enable patients to participate in and make informed decisions about their condition and treatment with additional therapy, guidance and education in a positive environment. Balya is run as a non-profit organisation, with sponsorship and volunteer support.

Balya also works to educate health professionals and the broader community about cancer, its prevention and its treatment. Dr Bullen reminded us that cancer will affect one in three WA men and one in four WA women during their lifetime.

Dr Bullen was an informative and motivational speaker for our meeting. More information can be had by visiting www.balya.org.au

Soroptimist International of Maylands Peninsula with Dr Ivy Bullen